Metallic alloy



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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

HENRY L. COLES AND JOSEPH G. DoNnLDsoN, or HAMILTON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS To GUARDIAN METALS COMPANY, on HAMILTON, OHIO, n CORPORATION or DELA- METALLIC ALLOY.

No Drawing. Qriginal application filed June 13, 1922, Serial No. 568,006. Divided and this filed August 5, 1924. Serial No. 730,194.

' The object of our invention is to produce a composite 'pla't'e or mass including a metallic alloy which shall be capable of resisting melting or oxidation, as by the local application of high heat by means of the blow pipe or other device, also which shall be capable of resisting disruption by explosives and cutting by drills or other tools.

In carrying out our invention we employ, primarily, what We shall term herein a major high melting point metal, meaning by this term that the principal constituent of the alloy consists of a metal or combination of metals having a melting point above 2200 C. Illustrations of such a metal or metals are tungsten, molybdenum, uranium. These metals for the purpose of the description herein may be referred to as the tungsten group. In fact it is intended to cover by theabove term all metals. of high melting point included within group 6 of. Mendelejefis Periodic Table, and for the purposes of this invention the major metal may consist of one of these, as, for instance, tung stem, or two, as, for instance, tungsten and molybdenum as desired. However, in. the

latter instance when employing both tungsten and molybdenum it has been found in practice that it is preferred to always have the tungsten present in greater amounts than the molybdenum. With this major metal we combine a smaller percentage (preferably from 10% to of the resulting alloy) of another metal, such as nickel. The nickel content serves to prevent oxidation of the 2,110 as we have found that tungsten is oxi ized, and that our alloy of tungsten with nickel is not readily oxidized. The reason for this behavior of the alloy with the nickel addition, is not clearly under- 'stood, but is set forth for the purpose of fully describing the observed properties.

It is essential that the alloy contain carbon or carbides, and these may be absorbed from the hearth or may be added in the form of the carbides of the metals employed, or may be directly added to the mixture during the melting process. Such carbonmay be added in v irying proportions, care being taken, however, that the'metals be not saturated therewith, and thus converted entirely into carbide, our purpose bein to mix a metal with its metallic carbide an not'to use the application carbide of a metal. alone. From 2% to 5% factory :results.

To a metallic alloy having the constituents above stated we may, if desired, add copper in any suitable proportion, preferably in the form of copper sulphide or cupro-silicon. Again, if desired, the metallic alloy, as above stated, may be used as a core, molten copper or other metal being cast about it, in which case over the areas of contact between casing and core an alloying action will take place,

producing at such points material of very high melting point, practically burn-resisting and drill-resisting, and possessing an added advantage residing in the high heat conductivity of the encompassing copper.

In practicing our process the electric furnace may advantageously be employed, in which the major metal may be melted and the other constituents added after the same has become molten. We employ the oxide of carbon has been found to give satis of one of the metals (for example, tungsten), together with the sulphide of the other.

A typical charge for analloy using two major high melting point metals is as follows 600 lbs. tungsten concentrates (approximately 66% WO 400 lbs. molybdenite M082).

100 lbs. nickel sulphide (NiS).

lbs. calcium sulphate (CaSOJ.

20 lbs. calcium fluoride (CaF The carbon maybe added directly to the charge or maybe absorbed from. the hearth or from the drippings of the electrodes in case carbon is desired. It added directly to the charge-it is preferable :to introduce the (approximately nickel in metallic form toward the end of the reaction, the quantum of nickel introduced amounting to a proximatel 4% to 8% of the com leted al y. Also, i desired, 6 copper sulphi a may be added during the reaction. Itmay also be noted that in place 99 The calcium sulphate and the calcium fluoride form a fluid slag which will not only, as above stated, prevent the escape of the sulphur in order that the reaction may continue, but which also will not absorb sulphur '25 at the beginning of the reaction. As the temperature rises the calcium sulphate begins to dissociate into calcium oxide (GaO) and sulphur tri-oxide (S0,). The calcium oxide together with the calcium fluoride (which acts to lower the-melting point of the slag) form a basic slag which is highly effective in absorbing sulphur from the alloy when formed at the end of the reaction. Such slag possesses therefore the three advantageous qualities found desirable in the production of a proper yield of metal, as heretofore generally indicated, i. e., fluidity, non-absorptiveness of sulphur at the beginning of the reaction and capacity for volatilizing at the close of the reaction, the remaining portion forming a basic slag to assist in purifying the alloy of sulphur found therein. We may add that with slags differently constituted the metal would, on occasion, he found mixed 4 therewith, ofl'ering difficulty in subsequent separation; also by the use of the slag herein described the maximum yield of clear metal is obtained.

Good results may be produced by a modification of the second typical charge specified above, i. e., the substltution of copper sulphide for molybdenite. Or, if desired, either retaining or omitting the molybdenite, copper may be added directly to the mixture at the end of the melt, or, as previously set forth, the alloy may be used as a core, an encasing mass of metal being cast about it, in which case further alloying will take place at the areas of contact.

a 60 A metal alloy produced as above indicated will resist melting by the application of high heat as by means of a blow torch; also cutting as by means of oxygen. If found somehat lackin in ductility a composite mass of etal ,may he mad loying such an alloy as laminae separated b other and more ductile) metals, and pre erably we ded thereto or alloyed therewith. This capacity for resisting the application of high heat permits the use of the alloy ,in very thin strata, and such resistance is increased where the alloy is encased in another metal due to the heat-conductivity of the latter, which permits the heat from the torch to be dissipated.

Thus, one or more plates made up of the alloy herein described and arranged either in alignment or in staggered relation and either in contact, or partial contact, with each other or separated to any desired extent and by any suitable means may, as by casting be embedded in encompassing metal, such as iron or steel, to form a composite mass suitable for use, for example, in the construction of safe and'vault doors, vault linings, etc. If desired, the encom assing metal may be of copper, either in w ole or in part, such encompassing metal having the characteristic of materially higher heatconductivity than that of the alloy. It is to be understood'that the encompassing metal may be either of a ferrous nature or of a copper nature, that is, composed principally either of iron or copper, as mentioned, for the reason that successful use has been obtained with either. It will be understood .that under attack, as by an oxyacetylene torch, the encompassing metal acts as a first line of defense, resisting, bv reason of itshigh heat-conductivity, the localizing and consequent destructive effect of the application of the heat of the torch. The action of the encompassing metal may be said to act principally in the capacity of conducting the alloy above described, which, certainly un-.

der conditions ordinarily obtaining, blocks further progress toward penetration of the plate or mass as a whole.

What we claim is 1. A metallic alloy having incorporated therein over 60 percent of tungsten, and nickel from 10 to 25%, said alloy being encased in a different metal having the characteristic of materially higher heat fionductivity than the tungsten-nickel alloyi 2. A metallic alloy having incdrporated therein over 60 percent of tungsten, 10 to 25 percent of nickel, 2 to 5 i'fieroentqarbon,

said alloy being encased in a diiferent metal having the characteristic of materially higher heat conductivity than the tungsten-nickel alloy.

3. A metallic alloy having incorporated therein substantially more than 70 percent of a metal of the tungsten group, and over 5 percent of a lower melting point metal such as nickel having the characteristic of opposing oxidation-of said tungsten group metal, sai

i alloy being encased in a different metal having the characteristic of materially higher heat conductivity than the first named alloy. 4. A metallic alloy having incorporated therein substantially 70 percent of tungsten, over 5 percent of a lower melting point metal having the characteristic of opposing oxidation of the tungsten, and 2 to 5 percent carbon, said alloy being encased in a metal'such as copper having the characteristic of materially higher heat conductivity than the first named alloy.

5. A metallic alloy having incorporated therein tungsten, molybdenum, a combined amount of said tungsten and said molybdenum being over 60 percent of the alloy, and 10 to 25 percent of nickel, said alloy being encased in a metal such as copper having the characteristic of materially higher heat conductivity than the first named alloy.

6. A metallic alloy having incorporated therein tungsten and molybdenum, the combined amount of said tungsten and said molybdenum being over 60 percent of the alloy, said tungsten being always present in a greater amount than said molybdenum, and 10 to 25 percent of nickel, said alloy being encased in a metal composed largely of copper which has the characteristic of materially hi her heat conductivity than the first named alloy.

7. A metallic alloy having incorporated therein tungsten, molybdenum, the combined amount of said tungsten and said molybdenum being over 60 percent of the alloy, nickel, and 2 to 5 percent carbon, said alloy being encased in a different metal having the characteristic of materially higher heat conductivity than the first named alloy.

8. A metallic alloy having incorporated therein tungsten and molybdenum in a total amount in excess of 70% of the alloy, 10 to 25% of nickel, and 2 to 5% carbon, saidalloy being encased in a different metal such as copper. having the characteristic of materially higher heat conductivity than that of the alloy.

9. A metallic alloy'having incorporated therein a high melting point metal such as tungsten in amount to exceed 70 percent 01 thealloy, and a lower melting point metal such as nickel in amount from 10 to 25 ercent, the nickel having the characteristic 0 0 posing oxidation of the tungsten, said alloy eing united, as by alloying therewith, to a different encompassing metal, such as copper and having the characteristic of materially higher heat conductivity than the first. named alloy.

10. A metallic alloy having incorporated therein tungsten and molybdenum to make 70 percent or more of the alloy, said tungsten being present in greater quantity than said molybdenum, lO to 25 percent nickel, and 2 to 5 percent carbon, said alloy being united, as by alloying, to a different encompassing metal, such as copper which has a materially higher heat conductivity than that of said alloy.

This specification signed this 31st, day of July, 1924.

HENRY L. COLES. JOSEPH G. DONALDSON. 

